Madonna
“Dress You Up”
Release: July 24, 1985 (US)
1. Dress You Up
2. Shoo-Bee-Doo
Producer: Nile Rodgers
Songwriters: Andrea LaRusso and Peggy Stanziale
Billboard Hot 100: #5
UK Singles Chart: #5
“Dress You Up” was the fourth and final single from Like a Virgin, which became Madonna’s 4th top 5 hit in the US in 1985. In Britain, it was released just before Christmas, becoming her 8th top 5 hit for 1985, a truly amazing run that included Like a Virgin (#3 Jan.), Material Girl (#3 March), Crazy for You (#2 June), Into the Groove (#1 Aug.), Holiday (#2 Aug.), Angel (#5 Sept.), and Gambler (#4 Oct.).
The song is typical of the predominant Like a Virgin sound, hardly straying from the driving synth bass of “Angel” or the effervescent pop of “Like a Virgin.” Madonna coos in her higher range with an exceptional amount of reverb. The song uses fashion, specifically dressing a man, as a sexual metaphor. This drew the ire of the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), a group formed by four influential Washington wives, including Tipper Gore. The PMRC put out a list of the “filthy fifteen” songs they found most offensive, which included “Dress You Up,” as well as Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop,” which was cited for sex and masturbation. This action by the PMRC is credited as leading to the creation of the “Parental Advisory” sticker, still used today voluntarily by record companies to warn consumers about music they may find offensive because of language or subject matter.
The video is taken from Like a Virgin Tour concert footage and was directed by Danny Kleinman.
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